Golf cup remover and setter



y 1957 R. E. HAYES 2,792,251

GOLF CUP REMOVER AND SETTER Filed 001:. 27, 1953 JNVENTOR.

ROBERT EHRL' HH YES My invention relates generally to a device or implement called a golf cup remover and setter, which will have its main use on a golf course, and is particularly concerned with the maintenance of the ball receiving cups located at each of the designated holes of said golf course; and its object is the removal and replacing of said cups from and back into the ground.

One object of this invention is to remove a golf ball receiving cup from the green where it is located without disturbing the earth or sod surrounding it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be partially inserted into a golf ball receiving cup and grip it in such a manner that the cup may be rotated to free its outer surface from the earth surrounding it, and when free, the cup can easily be withdrawn from the ground.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will quickly remove a golf ball receiving cup for the removal of any foreign matter which may have accumulated therein, or to repair or replace a damaged cup; and replace the repaired or new cup without the removal of any sod or earth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will not only easily remove a golf ball receiving cup from a hole in the ground into which it has been set, but also hold it in position for resetting the cup and tamping the earth and sod around it, to hold said cup firmly in its required position.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. l is a vertical view of my device inserted in a golf ball receiving cup which is shown in dot and dash lines; with thedevice in position for removal of the cup from the ground;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing:

The numeral indicates the shank of my device; with the handle 11 welded or otherwise secured to its upper most extremity. Located near the lower extremity of said shank 10 is the tamping disk 12. This disk is secured to the shank 10 by means of the four radial arms 13 which are welded to the shank 10, the downwardly extending collar portion 14, is also secured to disc 12, slightly above the junction of the radial arms 13, with shaft 10. The disk 12 and its collar portion 14 are concentric to the shank 10. Extending below said collar portion 14 is still another collar 15, the outer diameter of which will fit the internal diameter of the golf ball d States Patent Patented May 14, 1957 receiving cup C; shown in Fig. 1 in dot and dash lines.

A shoulder 16 is formed where the collars 14 and join each other. This shoulder, which in reality is the lower most extremity of the collar 14 is of a diameter equal to that of the outside diameter of the golf ball receiving cup C; the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter. The collar 14 is also radially shaped at 14a from the shoulder 14 upward and the purpose of this will also be more fully described hereinafter.

The bottom end of the shank 10 has the enlarged centering portion 17 which fits into the centralized hub 18 of the golf ball receiving cup C. (Fig. 1.) By means of this centering portion 17 and the collar 15, the shank 10 is held in axial alignment with the center line of the golf ball receiving cup C. Welded to the shank 10 at degrees to each other just above the centering portion 17, are the four fingers 19 which are bent outward and downward and upwards as shown most clearly in Fig. l. The lower ends of these fingers 19 are bent upwardly to form the hooked ends 20 which are provided to lift the cup C when they are caused to grip the under edge of arms 21 which secure the hub 18 to the outer wall off the cup.

Having thus described my invention in detail, I will now describe how it is manipulated to remove or replace a golf ball receiving cup.

To remove "a cup, the lower end is inserted into the top of the cup C with the hooked ends 211 of the fingers 11 in such a position that they will clear the aims 21 and allow the centering portion 17 to enter into the centralizing hub 18; and the collar portion 15 to enter the top of the cup. (See Fig. 1.) When the shoulder 16 of the collar 14 contacts the top edge of the cup, the hooked ends 20 of the fingers 19 will then clear the bottom edge of the arms 21 of the cup. The device is now in position to free the cup from the earth E surrounding its outer surface. This is done by means of turning the handle 11 in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction quickly. This will cause the fingers 19 to impart a hammer blow effect upon the sides of the arms 21, thereby jarring the cup free from the binding effect of the earth E surrounding it. With the cup being free to turn, it is now ready to be raised upward and this is accomplished by turning the handle 11 in a clockwise direction until the fingers again contact the sides of the arms 21. This will bring the hooked ends 20 under the bottom edges of said arms 21 as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3; and then by lifting upward on the handle 11 hooked ends 20 of the fingers 19 will be brought into contact with the bottom edges of the cup arms 21 as shown in Fig. 1. Note clearance between shoulder 16 and top of cup C due to this first small upward movement. With the cup gripped in this manner by the hooked ends 2t and still exerting an upward pressure upon the handle 11; said handle can now be intermittently turned clockwise and counterclockwise causing the cup to turn likewise. Continuing this turning action rather quickly and continuing the upward pressure will cause the cup to be removed from the ground very easily, quickly and without disturbing the earth G or the sod S.

When the cup has been extracted from the ground, it is removed from my device by reversing the hook gripping action. The cup can now be easily cleaned or repaired.

To insert a cup back in the same hole from which it has been extracted is not an easy operation but with my device it is very simple and quick.

The cup is placed in position over the centering plug 17 and the collar 15 and allowed to hang on the hooks 20. The cup is then centered over the hole and lowered until contact is made between the lower edge of the cup and the edge of the hole. Frictional resistance will prevent the cup from sliding down freely in the hole. At this point the weight of my device is resting upon the top edge of the cup by means of the shoulder 16, and if downward pressure on handle 11 will not cause the cup to slide downward, then the handle should be turned clockwise and counterclockwise with a continued downward pressure and the cup will enter the hole as easily as it was removed.

During the operation of replacing the cup; it is very possible that a small amount of earth may be scraped from the wall of the hole and the cup may be prevented from going down to its proper depth. If this should happen, the handle 11 is raised until the hooks 20 contact the arms 21 of the cup. This creates the space between the shoulder 16 and the top edge of the cup, see Fig. 1. With a sharp downward push on the handle 11, a hammer blow effect is imparted to the top edge of the cup to force it downwards into position. Several blows may be required to force the cup to its proper position and allow the collar 14 with its rounded portion 14a to push the sod S outward away from the top edge of the cup while at the same time the lower face of the plate 12, tamps the sod and earth down firmly.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some that may be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A golf cup remover and setter comprising in combination a shank, said shank having a handle at one end, said shank having a disk secured near its lower portion of its other end, said disk having a collar portion, said disk and said collar being concentric to said shank, extending below said collar portion is a second inner collar portion, the outer diameter of said first mentioned collar portion fitting over the external diameter of a golf ball receiving cup, a shoulder being formed at the joining point of said first and second collars, said shoulder portion resting on the outside diameter of said golf ball receiving cup, the bottom end of said shank having an enlarged centering portion, said centering portion fitting into the centralized hub of said golf ball receiving cup, and above said centering portion are four fingers bent downward and upward, and being fastened to said shank above said centering portion, and extending at their outer end to within a slight distance of the bottom of said centering portion to hook on to the radial arms of said golf cup extending from said centering portion to effect a removal, and/ or setting of said cup and said disc portion effecting a firm tramping of the sod and earth about said cup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,819 Hinckley Feb. 1, 1910 976,825 Wheeler et al. Nov. 22, 1910 1,041,081 Hinckley Oct. 15, 1912 1,653,994 Emmet Dec. 27, 1927 2,439,907 Poglein Apr. 20, 1948 

